Patent GB-1078663-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to continuous chemical reactions
IPC: C12J1/00
Filed: 1964-08-11
Abstract: <PICT:1078663/C4-C5/1> A vertical reaction column, suitable for the continuous alkylation of benzene with C10- 14 alkyl chlorides in the presence of AlCl3, comprises a series of reaction vessels 1, the top one having an inlet for a liquid reactant and each having its own heating or cooling coil 8, an overflow outlet 5 to the vessel below, and a gas inlet 12.  At least some vessels may also have thermometer wells 10, outlets 11 for removing some or all reaction products, a rotary agitator 6, and at least one inlet 9 for further solid and/or liquid reactants.  Inlet 9 may open above a downcomer 5 to facilitate mixing.  In addition, a vent 3 is provided which allows gases to leave. In Fig. 1, vents 3 enclose the agitator shaft 4 and pass all gases upwards to an outlet in the top vessel, or alternatively (Fig. 2, not shown) each vessel has an independent gas vent, either straight through its own wall or up through the vessel above and then through that vessel's wall.  The gas outlet or individual vents in each case may connect to a pressure retaining valve or a vacuum pump.ALSO:<PICT:1078663/C6-C7/1> A vertical reaction column, used for continuous chemical reactions or for distilling or evaporation, comprises a series of reaction vessels 1, the top one having an inlet for a liquid reactant and each having its own heating or cooling coil 8, an overflow outlet 5 to the vessel below, and a gas inlet 12.  At least some vessels may also have thermometer wells 10, outlets 11 for removing some or all reaction products, a rotary agitator 6, and at least one inlet 9 for further solid and/or liquid reactants.  Inlet 9 may open above a downcomer 5 to facilitate mixing.  In addition, a vent 3 is provided which allows gases to leave.  In Fig. 1, vents 3 enclose the agitator shaft 4 and pass all gases upwards to an outlet in the top vessel, or alternatively Fig. 2 (not shown) each vessel has an independent gas vent, either straight through its own wall or up through the vessel above and then through that vessel's wall.  The gas outlet or individual vents in each case may connect to a pressure retaining valve or a vacuum pump. An example is directed to the making of vinegar by action of a Mycoderma aceti culture on 12% ethyl alcohol flowing down a 32-vessel column, sterilized air being added to each vessel. Other fermentation reactions mentioned are the production of ethanol, butanol, acetone and citric acid.ALSO:<PICT:1078663/C2/1> A vertical reaction column, used for continuous chemical reactions or for distilling or evaporation, comprises a series of reaction vessels 1, the top one having an inlet for a liquid reactant and each having its own heating or cooling coil 8, an overflow outlet 5 to the vessel below, and a gas inlet 12.  At least some vessels may also have thermometer wells 10, outlets 11 for removing some or all reaction products, a rotary agitator 6, and at least one inlet 9 for further solid and/or liquid reactants.  Inlet 9 may open above a downcomer 5 to facilitate mixing.  In addition, a vent 3 is provided which allows gases to leave.  In Fig. 1, vents 3 enclose the agitator shaft 4 and pass all gases upwards to an outlet in the top vessel, or alternatively (Fig. 2, not shown) each vessel has an independent gas vent, either straight through its own wall or up through the vessel above and then through that vessel's wall.  The gas outlet or individual vents in each case may connect to a pressure retaining valve or a vacuum pump.  Particular chemical reactions exemplified are:  making benzene sulphonic acid in a 14-stage column, H2SO4 entering the top vessel and benzene being injected into each of the upper 12 vessels; making p-chloro-o-cresol in a 24-stage column, o-cresol entering at the top and sulphuryl chloride being added to the top 20 vessels to obtain at the bottom a 96% mono-chloro-o-cresol mixture which is subsequently fractionated; making p-chlorophenol by reacting phenol and sulphuryl chloride as in the last example; making nicotinic acid amide, an aqueous solution of ammonium nicotinate entering the top vessel at 90 DEG  C. and being heated to 140 DEG  C. as it descends through 50 vessels, into each of which NH3 is bubbled; making dibutyl maleate by passing a mixture of maleic anhydride, butyl alcohol and H2SO4 down a column and injecting gasoline into each vessel.